And an even more difficult question: it’s easy to preach against those sorts of irrationality whose denunciation will win you status points in reputable, high-status circles—but what about the irrationalities and delusions that are themselves a matter of consensus and strong moral feeling among high-status people? Who will have the courage to attack those with equal decisiveness and fervor?
You’re preaching to the choir. The real question is: how are you going to compel to be rational who aren’t otherwise inclined to do so? Demagoguery?
And an even more difficult question: it’s easy to preach against those sorts of irrationality whose denunciation will win you status points in reputable, high-status circles—but what about the irrationalities and delusions that are themselves a matter of consensus and strong moral feeling among high-status people? Who will have the courage to attack those with equal decisiveness and fervor?
The level does not have to be equal. It just has to be effective. A quiet word in one place can have more resonance than a rant in another.